
I had the pleasure of directing Julian Shaw in my new film LOOKING FOR DR. LOVE, now streaming in the US on Amazon Prime. On the eve of its release, Julian and I reconnected to talk about film school, auditioning over Zoom, and why actors no longer need to live in Hollywood to land their big break.
Julian Shaw has lived an interesting life. Growing up in Australia and New Zealand he attended a performing arts high school in Australia. After graduation, he was accepted by the prestigious Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS), where he earned a Master’s Degree in directing.
While working on his directing skills at film school, some of his fellow student directors began encouraging him to also focus on acting. “The other kids I was studying with seemed to see something in me in front of the camera. If it had been just one person I might have brushed it off, but it was several of my mates who cast me in projects and told me to consider giving performing a shot. This gave me the confidence to start focusing as much on acting as I was on directing.”

Julian’s first big break in front of the camera came when he landed a role in New Line Cinema’s film, San Andreas starring Dwayne Johnson and Paul Giamatti. “I’m in the film for about a minute, but I got to do a scene with Giamatti, who is one of my favorite actors. This experience made me realize that the acting process is fundamentally the same, whether it’s a student film or a big-budget Hollywood movie. It filled me with confidence and I realized that if I worked hard, I could be in anything.”
Shortly after completing San Andreas in Australia, Julian made his move to the US, eventually settling in Portland, Oregon. As luck would have it, it didn’t take him long to land a manager in Los Angeles. “They weren’t too happy with me being in Oregon, but they never lost their faith that I could close deals. In a post-pandemic world, I think they’re glad I can sustain myself comfortably in Portland because nowadays you’re one good self-tape away from breaking through.”
While waiting for auditions to come his way, Julian managed to find the financing to direct his first feature, Use Me. “I’ve always been driven to develop my own projects rather than wait for someone to offer me an opportunity.”
It turns out he was right to back his own talents. Use Me became a trending title on Amazon Prime, scoring an impressive 86% fresh rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. “Even though the story is dark and somewhat risqué, it proved to myself and my managers that I could carry the lead in a motion picture.”

It was around this time that “Looking for Dr. Love” came along. The story concerns a young woman who discovers that her long-lost boyfriend is now the DJ she listens to every morning on the radio. With a limited resume Shaw was a long shot, but he managed to nail his audition over a Zoom call with the producers, casting director, and myself. Truth be told, they tried hard to talk me out of casting him in favor of a more experienced actor, but there was something charming and confident about him that made him right for the role. I held my ground and watching the finished product I am very glad I did. Julian is the perfect “Dr. Love.”
“Auditioning for your film was a valuable experience,” he tells me. “I remember you guys had me on Zoom for quite a while, reading several scenes in an American, and then in my natural Australian/New Zealand accent. I’m really glad Dr. Love ended up being American because I felt confident in delivering a credible American accent throughout the film.”

Prior to shooting “Dr. Love,” Julian began to focus on social media, quickly embracing its potential. “Surprisingly, this seems to have made me more appealing in traditional media projects” he tells me. “I find it interesting that I finally booked the romantic lead in your film not long after I started working on my social media presence. I think the digital world and new technologies complement traditional media and work together synergistically.” Can’t say I disagree.
The prognosis for Julian is solid. Beyond promoting “Dr. Love” he is co-directing a new feature documentary with his friend Joseph Reitman. Julian and his girlfriend are also the subjects of an upcoming documentary, details to be revealed shortly.
In a tough, ever-changing business, Julian Shaw is ready to accept the challenges and be proactive, seeking out his own opportunities in front of, and behind, the camera. He is definitely an actor and filmmaker to keep an eye on.
You can catch LOOKING FOR DR. LOVE now on Amazon Prime as well as a number of other streaming services.
WATCH the trailer HERE.
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